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News18
17-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Paschimbanga Diwas: The Day Bengal Chose Her Soul
Paschimbanga Diwas is not just a political date. It is the heartbeat of the soil that once gave India her greatest reformers, artists, thinkers and martyrs There are dates in history that shine not with fireworks but with the quiet glow of conscience. June 20, 1947 was one such day, a day when Bengal, bloodied and bewildered, stood at the edge of oblivion and made a fateful choice. It chose India, civilisation over surrender, memory over amnesia. This day, now observed as Paschimbanga Diwas, marks the moment when Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee stood like a solitary flame in a storm, refusing to let the ambitions of the Muslim League devour Bengal. As the architects of Partition redrew borders in haste and indifference, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee invoked not maps, but moral memory. His resistance was not loud, it was luminous. In 1947, amidst the chaos of impending Partition, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, then Premier of Bengal, proposed the idea of a 'United Bengal", an independent sovereign state that would remain undivided and separate from both India and Pakistan. This idea, echoed with Muhammad Ali Jinnah's Two-Nation Theory and was widely seen as a strategic attempt to create a Muslim-majority country under the guise of unity, with Kolkata as its capital. Syama Prasad Mookerjee emerged as the strongest voice against this plan. Recognising the danger it posed to Bengal's Hindu population and India's national interest, he vehemently opposed Suhrawardy's proposal. Dr. Mookerjee mobilised public opinion, warned the Congress leadership and argued forcefully for the partition of Bengal to ensure that its Hindu-majority regions, including Kolkata, remained part of India. He warned it would be a 'virtual Pakistan," a land where the soul of Bengal, its temples, poets, women, and identity would be erased. It was not merely a political stand, it was a civilisational intervention. His efforts were instrumental in derailing the United Bengal scheme and securing West Bengal's inclusion in the Indian Union, thus safeguarding its cultural and civilisational heritage. Yet today, as West Bengal marks another year of existence, the state government refuses to remember, seeking to erase this date, rewrite identity, and obscure sacrifice. Paschimbanga Diwas is replaced by Poila Boishakh, a cultural celebration repurposed as political camouflage. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose once warned, 'The greatest crime is to compromise with injustice and accept wrong as the norm." This warning echoes hollow in the actions of Mamata Banerjee's government. Mamata Banerjee's regime, in its eagerness to appease and recalibrate identity politics, has abandoned the very legacy that saved Bengal from cultural annihilation. By rejecting 20th June, it rejects the sanctity of memory, the pain of Partition and the fierce foresight of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee. We must ask, Is this historical innocence or deliberate amnesia? Let us recall, it was Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee who, after the genocide of Direct Action Day, refused to play by the rules of fatalism. He warned Lord Mountbatten, debated Jawaharlal Nehru, opposed Suhrawardy and appealed directly to the people of Bengal. His voice was not communal, it was existential. It was the luminous defiance of a civilisation that refused to be erased. What he salvaged was not merely a province, it was the dream of Bengal. Not the Bengal of geography, but of poetry and pride, the Bengal of Chaitanya's kirtan, Vidyasagar's reform, Tagore's song and Subhas Bose's fire. A Bengal whose rivers flow with memory and resistance, not just water. Paschimbanga Diwas, therefore, is not just a political date. It is the ethical inheritance of every Bengali. It is the heartbeat of the soil that once gave India her greatest reformers, artists, thinkers and martyrs. As Rabindranath Tagore wrote: 'Bipode more rokkha koro e nohe mor prarthona, bipode ami na jeno kori bhoy" (Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them.) Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee did more than pray, he acted. Let Bengal seek its heart again. Let this not be nostalgia, but necessity. In remembering 20th June, we do not glorify Partition, we sanctify the resolve to survive it with dignity. Today, as West Bengal contends with violence, unemployment, and cultural erosion, it must look to 20th June not as history, but as instruction. Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was the son of Bengal's soil, and 20th June marks the day when this son reclaimed the rights of his motherland. In this moment of drift, we must turn to the compass of conscience. And 20th June, luminous with sacrifice and foresight, is that compass. Let us rise, as Bengal once rose, choosing India, choosing civilisation, choosing the soul over silence. On Paschimbanga Diwas, Bengal must speak again. And this time, the world must listen. Dr Sukanta Majumdar is the Union Minister of State and President of BJP's West Bengal unit. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: News opinion Opinion | Paschimbanga Diwas: The Day Bengal Chose Her Soul Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Dinkar Srivastava's ‘Pakistan: Ideologies, Strategies and Interests' is an examination of the ideologies that shaped Pakistan's foreign and domestic policies
Dinkar Srivastava is an IFS officer whose knowledge of our neighbour, Pakistan, is complete and exhaustive. He worked at the Indian Consulate in Karachi in the early '90s, personally met many of the people who shaped the history of that country and even had encounters, on a couple of occasions, with ISI operatives masquerading as unknown gunmen. His new book, 'Pakistan: Ideologies, Strategies and Interests', examines the ideologies that shaped the country's foreign and domestic policies. Pakistan army chief Asim Munir, in his speech on July 16, emphasised a 'superior ideology' that includes, but is not limited to, the Two-Nation Theory. The military positions itself as the defender of both territorial and ideological borders, having ruled Pakistan frequently, directly or indirectly. However, its legitimacy is under scrutiny, particularly highlighted by the unrest of May 2023 when crowds attacked military installations as the economy faced the risk of default. The narrow tax base and focus on military strategy over socio-economic development have exacerbated these issues. The book begins by analysing Pakistan's ideologies, tracing them from the pre-Partition period through pivotal moments such as Muhammad Ali Jinnah's August 11, 1947, speech, the 1949 Objectives Resolution and various constitutional developments. The term 'ideologies of Pakistan' reflects the plurality of ideas that have influenced its formation. Although there is no singular definition of Pakistan's ideology, its implications are significant in legal and political contexts, drawing on contributions from figures like Sir Syed Ahmad, Jinnah and Abul A'la al-Maududi, the latter's influence being understated despite his initial opposition to Pakistan's creation. The narrative of a separate Muslim identity laid the groundwork for Pakistan's demand, mainly propelled by the Muslim elite who sought to regain political power as the British rule waned. The book discusses the Two-Nation Theory and pivotal events leading to Partition, including the Lahore Resolution and the Cripps and the Cabinet Missions. Liberals often laud Jinnah's August 11 speech as a vision for an inclusive Pakistan, while the establishment tends to downplay it. The author also juxtaposes this with the perspective of those advocating for a united India. Further sections delve into the intersection of faith and politics through the Objectives Resolution that established divine sovereignty in governance, undermining parliamentary supremacy and minority rights. It also reviews the Munir Commission's findings regarding the anti-Ahmadi riots and explores the disenfranchisement of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), reflecting ongoing struggles for minority rights in the country. The conflict between ideology and nationality is integral to understanding Pakistan's formation, especially since the imposition of a singular national identity led to discontent in various regions, particularly East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) . The language issue further complicated this, as Urdu was prioritised over Bengali, fueling resentment. Pakistan's military considers itself both a protector of the nation and the custodian of its ideological tenets. Its strategy, involving claims of seeking 'strategic depth' in Afghanistan, often conflicts with rational military logic. After 9/11, significant shifts in policy reflected a tactical choice necessary for survival, leading to a complicated relationship with Islamist groups. Despite receiving substantial US aid, Pakistan's policies undermined the prospects of establishing a stable and democratic Afghanistan. The discourse surrounding Kashmir aligns ideological claims of the unfinished agenda of Partition with territorial ambitions. Pakistan's economic struggles, exacerbated by high military spending and inequitable resource distribution, challenge both its stability and development. The narrative around leadership, particularly under Imran Khan, intertwines with religious rhetoric and an erosion of the secular legacy of the National Awami Party of Wali Khan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. In the concluding chapters, the book questions the viability of Pakistan's ideology in addressing urgent contemporary challenges such as urban development and climate change. It synthesises historical speeches and debates, offering insights into the ideologies foundational to the state while recognising the broader international and domestic contexts shaping its trajectory over time. The book is based on speeches of Iqbal, Jinnah and Muslim League leaders to understand the ideology on which they based their conception of a State for 'Muslim India'. It uses international and Indian sources that must be considered in any discussion of the Partition of the sub-continent. The post-Independence journey is primarily based on Pakistani sources. The author has also made use of material available in the US Library of Congress and the UN Library. He has drawn upon the writings of two eminent jurists — Justice Muhammad Munir and Justice Dorab Patel. The former represented Pakistan in the Boundary Commission, headed the Munir Commission on anti-Ahmadiyya riots and became a member of Ayub Khan's Cabinet. Patel was the dissenting judge in the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto trial. Srivastava has also drawn upon Urdu writings, including Sir Syed Ahmad Khan's 'Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind', 'Muttahida Qaumiyat' by Maulana Madani and 'Shahab Nama' by Qudrat Ullah Shahab. Overall, this is a highly informative, well-written book that explores, in depth, the ideological moorings and philosophy of Pakistan and the manner in which it has influenced relations with India since the Independence of both countries. The writer is former Cabinet Secretary of India
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Client services for client state: Trump's reset with Pak is marked by a transactional, short-horizon foreign policy
ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Our forefathers believed that we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life. Our religion is different. Our customs are different. Our traditions are different. Our thoughts are different. Our ambitions are different.… That was the foundation of the Two-Nation Theory. It was laid on the belief that we are two nations, not one.'That was Pakistan Army chief Gen — now Field Marshal — Asim Munir speaking at the Convention for Overseas Pakistanis in Islamabad on April 17. Less than a week later in Pahalgam , Pakistani terrorists killed 1 Christian and 24 Hindu tourists, as well as a local Muslim who resisted the assailants, after the killers established their victims' religious identities.A link between Munir's rant and the Pahalgam massacre is a possibility. But the rage in India in response to the attack went far beyond what Pakistan had expected. Perhaps it had assessed that India would do what it had done after the 2016 Uri attack when 18 Indian soldiers were killed. Or, in response to the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, which killed 41 Indian paramilitary soldiers. On both earlier occasions, India had reacted with one-off counterattacks in POK and Balakot. Rawalpindi probably expected a similar reaction time, the storyline changed. India's counter, launched on May 7, forced the Pakistani DGMO to speak to his Indian counterpart on May 10, and seek a ceasefire. The world is now aware of what transpired between May 7 and 10, although many would not want to talk about it. Suppliers of military equipment to Pakistan — the US, China, and Turkey — will probably be reevaluating their equipment that succumbed to Indian, Russian and French the Americans got into the act, mostly to save their major non-Nato ally. The resounding success of the Indian response had taken them aback. One wondered about the urgency of Trump 's self-described 'intervention' to stop matters escalating on the India-Pak front when the Ukraine war and IsraelHamas conflict — or even the Houthi battles in Yemen — have been allowed to last for years. Indian denials about US intervention have been ignored by the Americans. The Pakistanis, of course, eagerly accepted this anxiety seems to centre around India's destruction of Pakistan's Nur Khan airbase. Remember, according to Pakistani journalist and security expert Imtiaz Gul, the base is 'under American control', where even senior Pakistan Army officers are not allowed to has been extremely useful to the US. Its defence minister Khawaja Asif asserted that they had been fighting America's dirty wars for 30-odd years. From a strategic perspective, it's well-known that the US has been helping Pakistan to keep India 'occupied', while they get a geographic toehold near Iran and China. Both China and the US would like to have total control over Pakistan, to have a base looking at their interests to the east and economic rise, its decisions to choose its sourcing and look after its own interests, cause concern to the US. India tends to get under its skin, as its commerce secretary Howard Lutnick grumbled recently. Which is why the restart of the old game of hyphenating India and Pakistan, ignoring Indian sensitivities, while propping up these decisions may have been made earlier, announcements of $1 bn to Pakistan by IMF, $40 bn by World Bank, and another $800 mn during Operation Sindoor were bad optics. The latest signallings include inviting Munir to attend the 250th US Army Day celebrations in Washington on June 14 — which also happens to be Trump's 79th birthday. Undoubtedly, Munir will meet officials from the State Department and Pentagon, and get promises for military Central Command commander Michael E Kurilla, testifying before the House Armed Services Committee in Washington earlier this week, described Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner' in anti-terrorism operations. He emphasised the need for the US to maintain relationships with both India and Pakistan, stating that he didn't 'believe it is a binary switch that we can't have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India'. In that case, the US shouldn't have a problem with India's relations with Russia and the a matter of conjecture if this US-Pak partnership is about Iran, Central Asia or even India. Pakistan is looking at buying 40 more Chinese J-35A stealth fighter aircraft, a rival of the US F-35, with a listed price of $9 bn, but on offer at 50% the value. This will mean that 80% of Pakistan's military purchases will be from China. Pakistan's debt to China, including CPEC, already amounts to nearly $70 April 26, World Liberty Financial (WLF) agreed to help build Pakistan's blockchain infrastructure, promote stablecoin-based remittances, and tokenise real-world assets. The agreement seeks to position Pakistan as a crypto-forward nation. Eric Trump, the president's son, is associated with WLF, whose executives met Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif as well as Munir. Enough such conditions, India should be prepared for Pahalgam-style attacks in the future, while expecting no assistance from China, and ambivalence from the US.
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First Post
07-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
'Combat terror, eliminate Jaish': Bilawal Bhutto delegation gets a reality check in US
US Congressman Brad Sherman gave a reality check to the Pakistani delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, insisting that the country should 'do all it can' to eliminate terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad from the region read more Pakistan's bid to spread its false propaganda in Washington failed horribly after a US lawmaker called out the country's support for a globally recognised terrorist organisation, Jaish-e-Mohammad. On Thursday, American Congressman Brad Sherman delivered stern advice to the Pakistani delegation led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari that the country should 'do all it can' to eliminate the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad. Sherman also told Bhutto's team that Pakistan should ensure the protection of religious minorities in the country. Interestingly, the remarks from the US lawmaker came months after Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir made provocative remarks, expressing his support for the so-called 'Two-Nation Theory,' days after which India witnessed the Pahalgam terror attack. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sherman took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to reveal that he emphasised to the Pakistani delegation the importance of combating terrorism and, in particular, the group Jaish-e-Mohammed. The American lawmaker pointed out that it was the JeM that was behind the murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002. For years, the people of #Sindh have faced political repression through enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Since its founding in 2011, Pakistan's own Human Rights Commission has documented over 8,000 cases of enforced disappearances, many of which have never been… — Congressman Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) June 6, 2025 Sherman shares the plight of the Pearl family In his post, the US lawmaker noted that he told the Pakistani delegation that it is important to combat terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and shared the plight of the Pearl family. 'I emphasised to the Pakistani delegation the importance of combatting terrorism, and in particular, the group Jaish-e-Mohammed, who murdered my constituent Daniel Pearl in 2002,' the Congressman said. 'Pearl's family continues to live in my district, and Pakistan should do all it can to eliminate this vile group and combat terrorism in the region,' he added. Daniel was kidnapped by terrorists in Pakistan in January 2002, while he was on his way to what he had expected would be an interview with Pakistani religious cleric Mubarak Ali Gilani in Karachi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Congressman from California also raised concerns about the lives of minorities in Pakistan. 'Christians, Hindus and Ahmadiyya Muslims living in Pakistan must be allowed to practice their faith and participate in the democratic system without fear of violence, persecution, discrimination, or an unequal justice system,' he said in the post. During the meeting, Sherman also called for the release of Dr Shakil Afridi, who continues to languish in prison for helping the United States kill Osama bin Laden . 'Freeing Dr Afridi represents an important step in bringing closure for victims of 9/11,' he said. Dr Afridi is a Pakistani physician who helped the CIA run a polio vaccination programme in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The campaign eventually helped in the collection of the DNA sample of the Bin Laden family. Afridi was eventually arrested by Pakistani authorities shortly after the American raid on Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad in May 2011. In 2012, a Pakistani court eventually sentenced him to 33 years in prison. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
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First Post
18-05-2025
- Sport
- First Post
How first PSL match after week-long suspension was used for Pakistan Army propaganda
The ongoing season of the Pakistan Super League resumed after a week-long suspension with the match between Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi in Rawalpindi, which was attended by top military officials including Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. read more General Asim Munir, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, was seated next to Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi during Saturday's PSL between Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi. Image credit: Screengrab of video posted on X The ongoing seasons of the Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League resumed on Saturday after a week-long hiatus due to the recent armed conflict between India and Pakistan. While the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders ended in a washout that resulted in the latter getting eliminated from the playoffs race, there were no weather-related interruptions on the other side of the border as Karachi Kings ended up defeating Peshawar Zalmi in the match that was originally scheduled to take place on 8 May. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Top military officials attend Karachi Kings-Peshawar Zalmi match in Rawalpindi Saturday's PSL restart, however, witnessed what can be construed as military propaganda, with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir among those in attendance alongside Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also happens to be the country's Federal Interior Minister. Also seated at the VIP Box at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday was Director General ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. They should keep doing the winning celebration for atleast 3 more months cx man this is crazy😭 — samiya 6-0 (@pinklininginsky) May 17, 2025 General Munir had made headlines for his infamous 'Two-Nation Theory' speech in which he made controversial remarks regarding Hindus and described Kashmir as Pakistan's 'jugular vein', besides commenting on the insurgency in Balochistan. Five days later, 26 people – a majority of them tourists – were killed and several others injured in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that ignited tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations and led to the military showdown. Lt Gen Chaudhry, meanwhile, had attended several press briefings alongside Air Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, the two serving as the spokesperson of the Pakistan Army and Air Force respectively. He is the son of Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood, a former nuclear scientist who is also a UN-listed terrorist and was linked to 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. The Indian armed forces had responded to the Pahalgam attack by striking multiple terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The Pakistan armed forces retaliated by indiscriminately targeting civilian areas in Poonch and other areas in J&K. Pakistan's escalation led to India targeting multiple air bases, including the Bholari Air Base that is located around 100 kilometres from the metropolis of Karachi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The two nations agreed to a ceasefire on Saturday after more than three days of military hostilities, allowing cricket to resume in India as well as in Pakistan. While RCB and KKR collected a point each following a washout that ended the latter's hopes of sneaking into the playoffs, defending champions Karachi Kings defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 23 runs.
